Wagon-starter.



PATENTBD JAN. 17, 1905.

- J. AUSTIN.

WAGON STARTER.

APPLIOLTION FILED MAR. 25, 1 904. 7

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905. J. AUSTIN. I

WAGON STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IHHHHIHHHIHHI [N VENTOR 3O ing the features of the present invention.

I Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFI E.

JOHN AUSTIN, FLORISSANT, COLORADO.

WAGON-STARTER.

. SPECIFIG ATI ONfQrming part of Letters Patent No. 780,469, datedJanuary 1'7, 1905.

Application filed March 25, 1904. Serial No. 200,024.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN AUSTIN, acitizen of the United States, residingatFlorissant, in the county of Teller'and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon-Starters; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wagon-gears, and moreparticularly to means for imparting an initial movement to the wheels ofa running-gear.

It has heretofore beenproposed to start the running-gear of a wagon byapplying the pulling pressure directly to the wheels through mechanismengaging the hubs of the wheels; and one object of the present inventionis the provision of means forapplying the starting draft to theperiphery of the wheels instead of to the hubs thereof, whereby amaximum leverage may be obtained.

- With this and further objects in View the invent-ion comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of awagon embody- Fig. 2 represents a view in side elevation thereof. Fig. 3represents an enlarged detail fragmentary side elevation of a portion ofone of the operating-chains applied and its springsupport. Fig. 4represents .an enlarged detail longitudinal vertical central sectiontaken through the doubletree connections and surrounding parts, partsbeing illustrated in elevation. Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of theparts disclosed in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents a view in side elevation ofthe parts seen in Fig. 5, the doubletree and parts connected therewithbeing illustrated in-their rear position.

In carrying out the present invention I secure a suitable bracket 1 toeach side of the Wagon-body 2 or to the vertical standards 3 at eachside of the running-gear of the wagon, and each of I said bracketscarries a suitable spring 4, supporting the end of a startingchain 5.The starting-chains 5 extend approximately parallel to each other andare connected at their front ends to the respective opposite ends of thedoubletree 6, supported and carried by a tongue 7 in a mannerhereinafter fully set fortl Each starting-chain 5, is provided at itsrear end with a branch 8, adapted to be wrapped about the felly and tireof the respective rear wheel of the wagon. 1 A

. branch chain 10, similar to branch 8, is carslacked the lap of thebranch chain is released and the branch permitted to drop away from thewheel, the respective spring 4 serving to elevate the given chain 5 forpreventing entanglement of the branches thereof with the respectivewheels of the wagon. The branch chain in practice is wrapped about thefelly and tire of the wheel after the manner indicated in Fig. 3, andthe free end of the branch chain'is forced beneath one of the loops ofthe chain, so'that strain upon the chain is designed to cause tighteningof the laps thereof.

A bracket 12 is fixed to the tongue 7 near the rear end thereof, andabracket 13 is spaced forwardly of the tongue and fixed thereto, saidbrackets carrying a rod 14, arranged parallel to and spaced above saidtongue, said rodl4 being secured in place by suitable bolts 15 15.

. and slacking of the chain will effect a release A collar 16 surroundsthe rod 14 and is provided with suitable set-screws 17 17 adapted to bethreaded against the same and retaining thecollar 16 in a fixed positionwith respect to the rod 14. Suitable hooks 18 18 project laterally fromthecollar 17 and are adapted for purposes hereinafter mentioned. Asleeve19 surrounds the rod 14 and is spaced in the. rear of collar 16, acoiled spring 20 being interposed between said sleeve and collar andsurrounding the rod 14, one end of the spring 20 being preferably fixedto the collar 16. l Suitable set-screws 21 21 are carried by the sleeve19 and are designed to be threaded into clamping contact with the rod 14for retaining thesleeve in a fixed position relative to said rod.Suitable straps 26 extend upwardly at each side of sleeve 19, and attheir upper free ends said straps carry a plate 22, constituting aclevis. The doubletree 6 extends between the plate 22 and the sleeve 19,and a pin 23 extends through the plate 22 through doubletree 6, and isthreaded into a sleeve 19 for securing the doubletree 6 in position. Thethreaded aperture in the sleeve 19, designed to receive the pin 23,extends through the sleeve 19 and permits contact of the pin 23 with therod 14, whereby said pin may be threaded down into clamping contact withsaid rod for .assisting the set-screws 21 in locking sleeve 19 inposition. An extension 2 L projects reari ing further supports for thedoubletree 6. A

wardly from the upper surface of the sleeve 19 and forms abearing-support for the doubletree 6, plates 25 being preferably securedat the opposite sides of the tongue 7 for formbolt 27 connects thestraps 26, at the opposite ends of which may be connected suitablechains 28 28, having their lower ends attached to a bolt 29, extendingthrough the tongue 7, whereby after the starting operation the strainmay be taken up by the chains 28 and bolt 29.

In operation when the wagon is being drawn and the present improvedstarting devices are not being used the parts are preferably positionedas indicated in Figs. 4t and 5,with chains 28 connecting bolt 27 withbolt 29, or said chains may be removed from bolt 27 and connected to thebooks 18, so that the strain will still be taken up by said chains, butwith the cushioning effect of the spring 20, the draft of the load beingaccomplished through the doubletree 6, sleeve 19, spring 20, collar 16,hooks 18, chains 28, bolt 29, and tongue 7. It will of course be seenthat when it is desired to secure the cushioning eifect of the spring 20it is necessary to release the clamping action of the set-screws 21 andof the pin 28.

When it is desired to start a wagon provided with the present improvedmechanism, assuming that it is desired to make the start from the tworear wheels, the branches 8 are looped about the fellies and tires ofthe respective wheels in the manner above described and commonly knownas a cats-paw, the doubletree 6 having been placed at the rear end ofrod 14, as indicated in Fig. 6, and the chains 28 removed for permittingfree longitudinal movement of the sleeve 19. When the parts are in thisposition, the draftanimals are started, and the doubletree 6 is givenprobably ten to fifteen inches free play,

which permits a direct draft on the periphery of the respective rearwheels, causing the I same to rotate, and thereby start the movement ofthe wagon. As soon as the wheels have been started and thestarting-chains 5 are caused to assume a slacked position by themovement of the wheels the cats-paws will be released and the branchchains 8 permitted to fall free from the wheels, the springs 4 elevatingthe chains out of the path of the wheels. If it is desired to start thewagon by actuating one rear wheel and one front wheel, it is onlynecessary to apply the proper branch chains, as above described, or, ifdesired, all of the wheels may be started simultaneously by applying allof the branch chains. As the start is effected through the forwardmovement of the doubletree 6, the sleeve 19 travels forwardly on the rod1 1 and eventually comes in contact with the cushioning-spring 20, andthe impact of said sleeve is taken up by said cushion. It will beobserved that the setscrews 17 may be manipulated for facilitatingadjustment of the collar 16 longitudinally of the rod l t for increasingor decreasing the length of stroke of the sleeve 19.

While 1 have described each of the elements 5asa chain and its branchesas chains, it will be observed that any suitable cables or otherflexible means may be substituted for the chains, and I wish itdecidedly understood that this substitution is clearly within the scopeof the present invention, and I furthermore desire my claims to beconstrued broadly in the employment of the term chain as meaning anyflexible means capable of accomplishing the same result attainable witha chain or cable. Furthermore, it will be observed that thestarting-chains 5 may be omitted and rods substituted therefor, such asare illustrated in connection with United States Letters Patent No.695,780, issued to me on the 18th day of March, 1902. It will thereforebe seen that it is fully within the scope of the present invention tosubstitute rods for the chains 5 as long as suitable means are connectedwith such rods for permitting detachable attachment to the wheels of thewagon.

The tongue-support of some wagons is arranged on top of the tongue, andthus interferes to a certain extent with the baclmard movement of thedoubletree, and sometimes the hounds interfere, and in such instances 1.contemplate placing the slide well to the front, so as to give the partsample room for the necessary movement, and when the start has been madeordinary draft may be secured by tightening the set-screws 21 and pin 23and positioning the chains 28.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon, of a starting-chainarranged at one side thereof, a spring engaging the free end of saidchain, and a branch chain depending from said chain intermediate thelength thereof.

2. In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon, of a starting-chainconnected to the draft mechanism thereof, means for supporting saidchain, and a plurality of branches carried by said chain.

3; In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon, of a starting-chainconnected with the draft mechanism thereof, a spring supporting saidchain, and means for detachably connect- 1ng said chain to one of thewheels of said wagon.

5. In a Wagon-starter, the combination with 'a wagon, of a chainextending longitudinally of the body thereof and connected to the draftmechanism of said wagon, a spring supporting the rear end of said chain,and wheel-engaging means carried by said chain.

6. In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon, of a starting meansextending longitudinally of the body of saidwagon, a spring supportingthe rear end of said starting means, and branch chain for detachablysecuring said starting means to one of the wheels of said o 7. In awagon-starter, the combination with a wagon and tongue therefor, of arod spaced above said tongue, means securing said rod to saidtongue,doubletree-carrying means movably arranged on said rod, adoubletree carried thereby, means for securing said doubletree-carryingmeans against movement independently of said rod, and wagon-startingmeans connected to said doubletree.

8. In awagon-starter, the combination with a Wagon and tongue therefor,of a rod spaced above said tongue, a sleeve slidably mounted on saidrod, a doubletree carried by said sleeve, means for-locking said sleeveagainst movement on said rod, connections between said sleeve and saidtongue adapted to relieve the strain on said rod, and starting meansconnected to said doubletree.

9. In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon and tongue, of a rodspaced from and connected to said tongue, a sleeve slidably surroundingsaid rod, a collar surrounding I said rod and spaced from said sleeve,cushioning means interposed between the said collar and sleeve, meansfor locking said collar against movement independently of said rod, adoubletree carried by said sleeve, and starting means connected withsaid doubletree.

10. In a wagon starter, the combination with a wagon and a tonguetherefor, of a rod spaced from said tongue and connected thereto, asleeve slidably carried by said rod, a setscrew carried by said sleeveand adapted to engage said rod for locking said sleeve against movementindependently of the rod, a collar surrounding said rod, means forretaining said collar against movement independently of the rod, aspring interposod between said collar and sleeve, and wagon-startingmeans connected with said sleeve.

11. In a wagon-starter, the combinationwith a wagon and atonguetherefor, of starting means carried by said tongue, and a stopadjustable longitudinally of said tongue and designed to control thelength of stroke of said starting means;

12. In a wagon-starter, the combination.

with a wagon and tongue therefor, of starting means carried .by saidtongue, and an adjustable cushion adapted to control the length ofstroke of said starting means.

13. In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon and tongueconnected thereto, of a rod spaced from said tongue, starting meanscarried by said rod, and a collar adjustably carried by said rod in thepath of movement of said starting means.

14, In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon and tonguetherefor, of a rod spaced from and connected to said tongue, startingmeans carried by said rod, an adjustable stop carried by said rod, and aspring retained in the path of movement of said'starting means by saidstop.

15. In a wagon-starter, the combination with a wagon and tonguetherefor, of a rod carried by and spaced from said tongue, startingmeans carried by said rod, and an adjustable cushioned stop arranged inthe ath of movement of said starting means and; to be adjusted forcontrolling the length of stroke of said starting means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

JOHN AUSTIN. Witnesses: v

S. TAeeART, B. F. 'TAGGART.

d apted

